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In one complaint, a driver from South Florida told NHTSA that as she approached cars stopped at a red light at about 30 mph, she tried to brake, but the pedal went all the way to the floor. "I was in panic mode as I started pumping the brakes and nothing," the woman wrote. The car started to coast to a stop, but the woman ended up hitting a car stopped in front of her, causing minor damage. The car was towed to a dealer, where mechanics drained and replaced the brake fluid. The woman said her husband still questioned the car's safety, so a manager drove it during a weekend but couldn't duplicate the problem. The woman was told that the dealer couldn't replace any parts. She wrote that she is dissatisfied with how her dealer handled the situation. Her family now has a car "we feel is unsafe to be driving." Another driver also complained that the brakes failed four times. A dealer replaced the brake master cylinder, but the problem didn't stop. "It is only a matter of time before a crash and possibly injury occur," the driver wrote. "Brakes are like jet engines. They really need to work all the time." NHTSA does not identify people who file complaints with the agency. It's the first investigation announced by NHTSA since the 16-day partial government shutdown began on Oct. 1.
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